Yvonne Clarke, 39, watched in horror as her young daughter Sophia McDonald was hit by the slow-moving truck as the pair crossed the road in Coventry last month

Witnesses described hearing her shout ‘no, no no’ and ‘it’s my fault’ as the nine-tonne lorry crushed the little girl when she ran into the road just yards from the family home.

Her mother has now revealed she doesn’t blame the driver for her daughter’s death after describing the youngster as a “beautiful angel” who had a “cheeky smile”.

Ms Clarke said she had been “overwhelmed” and was “deeply grateful” to those who rallied around the family in the wake of the tragedy on October 18.

In a statement released this week by Coventry Cathedral – where Sophia’s funeral is being held next Monday – the family said: “Sophia’s family is overwhelmed and deeply grateful to the people of Coventry and particularly the Bell Green community for their wonderful support.

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The scene of the crash quickly became a makeshift site for people to pay tribute to Sophia, with many laying flowers for the schoolgirl

Another witness said she saw the mother “screaming like mad on the pavement”.

The witness said: “She was crying and wailing. It was heartbreaking. There was nothing that could be done.”

The incident occurred just yards from the family’s hom

e with witnesses saying that the driver of the lorry, in his 50s, appeared in shock after the collision.

One witness said: “The driver of the lorry was on the road and shopkeepers were next to him. He had his hands over his mouth. He looked in shock.”

A local doctor from a nearby GP rushed out to help but the seven-year-old died at the scene.

Tom White, managing director of Tom White Waste, said he had arrived at the scene 20 minutes after the incident occurred.

He said the lorry had been empty with the driver on his way back to the yard. He added: “He was waiting in the middle lane approaching the traffic lights. The little girl must have crossed one lane of traffic before she was hit.

“The driver was not aware of anything until he heard a bump. He moved no more than a yard before he hit her.”